Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-01-08
Mistaking, nisdating,
Misciting, miswritins,
MisSpelling, nistcliinG,
Ill-sOrting, distorting.
EnnfuAinn uhnGinn


Once Mr. living, of Ohio, the father
of Mrs. General Sherman, said, in a
speech, that ii the bill under discussion
was enacted our lakes would be barren
wastes of water, and our canals soli-
tudes." After that he was called at the
Capitol Solitude Ewing" One even
ing he gave a large party, and Mr..
Webster arrived late. Forcing his way
through the crowd, he exclaimed, as
he reached his host:
CHI solitude, where the charms
That sages have seen in thy face2
1t elected a roar of laughter, in
which Mr.. Ewing joined. Mr.. Webster
also had great fund of anecdote, and
loved to describe the leading members
of the New Hampshire and Massachu-
sets bars, when he first entered upon
the practice of the law. Occasionally
he would indulge in u "reminiscences of
his own life, and his narrative of his
experience as the President of lum:
Der company, organized during the
speculative days in Maine, was very.
amusing, especially his account of II
visit which he received at Boston from
Il garrulous old dame of Milesian birth,
certificate of stock, and who had
come to demand her "davy-dind.
Mr.. Webster had another UNI
fortunate experience in specializing
in Illinois lands at Rock Island
City, Il town on paper, but far distant
from the present city OF Rock Island.
Mr.. Webster liked to refer to his
speech on the Goodrich trial, and he
claimed that he was an Essex County
man by descent aud distantly connected
with the poet Whittier. They were
both descended from Christopher Hus-
sey of Hampton, \. H., who married a
daughter of the Rev. Stephen Batchei-
der, vivacious old non-conformist,
who made good deal OF trouble in his
day. Mr.. Webster inherited from the
Batchelders, who aftcrward settled in
Salisbury, his swartby complexion,
which, rs Gen. Stark said, when speak
ing of Col. EbeneZcr Webster, "burnt
powder would not change" He was
familiarly aliuded to as BLACK Dan"
in conversation, but L never heard of
any one who dared to call him by that
familiar appellation.
lr. Thornton, native of the West
L
Bureau, then in the State Department,
from the administration of Washington
until that of John Quincy Adams.
After his death it was discovered that
his wife was the daughter of the cele-
brated DR.. Dodd, executed at / ondon
for forgery. in the reign of George the
Third. Mrs. Dodd, calling herself
Mrs. Badeau, came to Philadelphia,
when Congress sat there, and opened a
school for young ladies, which was pa
tronized by the best families in the city.
DR.. Thornton fell in love with her
Vogng daughter, and, after having been
con1identially informed of her real
name and parentagc, married her. lie
removed here when the seat OF Govern
ment was established here, and his
wife and mOther-iu-law used to manage
linn somewhat despotically, although
they could never conquer his love
for horse-racing, to which he was pas
sionately addicted, and at no small cost
to his purse, which was not always able
to bear it. On one occasion suit was
brought by him to recover the sum OF
$4,000, the price of a celebrated race
horse, Rather, the defendant contend
ing that the horse was broken down
for want of food before he was sold,
pleading mo consideration. 4 wag
present at the trial, hearing DR.. Thorn
tons counsel complaining that they had
not been paid, as per agreement. wrote
| With his horses unfed, he loses his races,
! With his lawyers unpaid he loses lis cases.
DR.. Thornton claimed to have been
| the inventor of steam navigation, and
TO have made experiments on the Della
ware before Fulton made his on the
Hudson. This claim brought the two
into collision, and when Fulton came
to reside in Washington they carried
on a bitter newspaper and pamphlet
war; Fulton asserted that Thornton
was an ignoramus, and to prove the
assertion narrated the following con,